Latch.



w. E. LOTT. Luck.

(Application :Bled Nov. 19, 1898A No. 629,166. Y Patented July ls, |899.

lo Model.)

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- Y UNITEn STATES PATENT Ormes.'

" WILLIAM E. Lo'rr, or MmnoLA, rraxAs.

, LATCH.

l n SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent No. 629,166, datedJuly 1s, 1899.

Appumion nea November 19,1898. serai No. 696.991. LND man.)

To all whomA it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. LOTT,.a citi` zen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Mineola, in the county of l/Vood and State of'Texas, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Latches, ofwhich the -following is a specication, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings. y

This invention relates to improvements in latches, and particularly tothat class known as gravity-latches for use. on sliding or swinginggates or doors.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel combination wherebythe latch is so pivoted as to prevent accidental displacement 4ordisengagement by reason of the movementV of the door or gate by reasonof the agitation due to the wind, dac., or by reason of the swinging andswaying ofa car in its travel. The further object of the invention isthe provision of a novel engaging member in conjunction with which thelatch operates to accomplish the result.

Finally the object of the invention is to provide a latch which will bestrong, durable, and efficient, as well as comparatively inexpensive.

With the above and 'other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel details of.

construction, as well as in the arrangement and combination of parts, tobe hereinafter more fully set forth yand specifically set forth in theannexed claims.

In describin'glthe invention in ,detail reference will. be had to theaccompanying draw-l in elevation off the car-door latch, with the latchproper shown in dotted lines in an elevated position to illustrate theprovision made for attaching the ordinary car-seal.

` In the drawings, 1 denotes a swinging gate,

and 2 the gate-post or stationary portion of 'the inclosu re.

3 is a base-plate, and i an integral arm slotted longitudinally toreceive the latch 5,

'which-.is pivoted at one of its angles to the said arm. The inclinededge of the latch Vis ladapted to ride over its engaging member and inso riding to cam vthe latch upward un- .til the said latch has passedthe engaging member, when it will fall by gravity and conne theengagingmember between the base-plate and the edge 7 of the latch. As the edge 7is at right angles to the arm and as the pivotal point of the latch isabove the point at which the engaging member will abut the edge 7,anypressure exerted on the edge 7 of the latch willtend to give adownward pressure on the latch, thus holding the said latch againstupward displacement, while the descent of the latch beyond apredetermined posilt-ion is prevented by the flanges 8, extending fromthe upper edge of thei latch, which engage the upper edge of .the arm,whereby the latch is supported. An end flange 9l is also formed on thelatch and abutsthe end ofthe armV to limit the upward swing of thelatch, 'the said arm having its upperedge at the en d.ro nnded to admita free swinging Vmovements of the saidlatch.

.that the said Aarm lis arranged longitudinally of the base-plate and'Vextends outward from the side thereof. i The latch in this arrange- Ament is provided with an odset 12, apertured to register with anaperture in the arm for the reception of the usual car-seal that thelatch may not bey raised Without disturbing the seal. The engagingmemberof this construction consists of abase-plate 13, having a topflange'llt at the front end, said flange terminating in a handle 15.V atthe rear. The top flange is provided with an elongated opening 16 toreceive the latch, as will be understood,

and this combination makes a strong fasten- IOO i); f elaie ing whichwill withstand the wearand rough usage to which the railway-car issubjected. As the flanged end of the plate of the engaging memberprotrudes beyond the edge of the door in order to engage the latch andas such protruding section might interfere with the free use of theopening in the car, I have arranged it in sections, the outer sectionbeing pivoted on the bolt 17, that the outer end may swing upward out ofoperative position, While adownward pressure on the end will bring itinto operative position, with the body and flange registering, and asthe pivotal point is at the tip and the body and ilange register theextension is firmly held and the latch canride thereover, since saidlatch will exert a downward pressure and no inconvenience will result,While the ad van tages of such an arrangement will be appreciated.

The construction and operation will, it is thought, be understood fromthe foregoing description, it being noted that various changes in theproportions and other details of construction may be resorted to Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination a latch-arm having a rounded upper outer edge, and aslot, a latch pivoted near the end and depending through the slot, anend liange protruding over the upper outer edge, side lianges formedwith tlie latch, and an engaging member for the latch, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination a latch-arm having a rounded upper outer edge, and aslot, a latch pivoted near the end and depending through the slot, anend flange protruding above the upper outer edge, side flanges formdWiththe latch and an engaging member or the latch consisting of a platehaving a handle extending longitudinally thereof and terminating in aslotted extension to receive the latch, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a base-plate,'a slotted arm having a rounded edge atthe end, a latch pivoted in the slot of the arm, said latch having sideflanges and a protruding end extending above the rounded edge at the endas set forth, an engaging member consisting of a plate and a flangedextension, said extension being slotted to receive the latch,substantially as described.

4. In combination, a base-plate, a slotted arm having a rounded edge atthe end, a latch pivoted in the slot of the arm, said latch havflangeformed with the extension and extend-I ing back over the plate andterminating in a handle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afX my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

IVILLIAM E. I.O'I"`. Witnesses:

I-I. M. GATE, E. L. BRUCE.

